God wants you to find your wealth in Him. Scripture warns repeatedly about the dangers of holding wealth too tightly and making it too important in our lives. Often quoted as Scripture is the statement, "Money is the root of all evil." That is actually a misquote. The Scripture is, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Tim. 6:10). Money is not inherently bad; love of money is.

Jesus taught, as recorded in Matthew 19:24, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This is not because God hates rich people. Instead, He is referring to how many wealthy people live as though they do not need God and how they cling so tightly to their wealth that it consumes them.

On the other hand, some churches teach that if you are not prospering, then you must have sin in your life. I only have to point to the life of Jesus to disprove that idea. Jesus lived a meager, lowly life when He could have said one word and had riches untold. He had His eye on the prize. He knew what awaited Him and, in comparison to that, earthly treasures had no sparkle or gleam for Him. That is how we are called to live.

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil 4:11).